Cooker hood bulbs

[Mathew Newton]

...is there anything special about them?

I recently replaced two 40W tubular bulbs (e.g.

two 25W pygmy bulbs (e.g. order to lower the light output somewhat.

However two months on and one bulb has already blown and the other is slightly blackened. The bulbs were Osram branded so one assumes it is not a quality issue.

I know one aspect of oven bulb design is that they are rated to

300degC however is this a requirement for cooker hood bulbs also? Presumably it is the vibration in a cooker hood that is the main threat? Are oven bulbs designed with more resilience to vibration also?

Looking around it seems that 40W is the standard for cooker hoods however plenty of oven bulbs come in 25W so perhaps they're my best bet or did I just have a couple of dodgy bulbs?

Mathew

[Tinkerer]

Curious that. Years ago I replaced the two pukka cooker type bulbs in our cooker hood with bog standard candle bulbs which were all I had handy at the time.. They have never had to be replaced since so I don't think there can be a heat problem.

[Mathew Newton]

I think it's more of a vibration issue - looking at the filament when in use I can see it wobbling a fair bit.

Typical, since posting my query I've found loads of sources for 25W cooker hood bulbs - the tubular type - so I may give them a try and see if I have more luck.

Mathew

[Michael Chare]

We have always used standard bulbs. It never occurred to me to do anything else! The bulbs are behind (i.e. above) some clear plastic.

[Tabby]

Bog standard bulbs are ok, but 25w 240v bulbs are a bit fragile. Better to use CFLs here imho.

NT

[Mathew Newton]

Ah, that's a good point. I hadn't considered that the smaller filament size of the 25W could be to blame. I'll see how I get on with the 'cooker hood' variety - indeed when they arrive I'll compare how the filament looks compared with my failed pygmys.

I hadn't considered them to be honest - I might have a look at some as these lights do tend to remain on for a while as we tend to use them as part of the general kitchen lighting.

Mathew

[Tabby]

They'll either be the same or have more filament supports. I wouldnt bother with them.

NT

[Mathew Newton]

Too late! ;-)

If nothing else, the tubular shape with its longer filament may offer some lighting benefit over the squatter pygmy globe?

Mathew

[Stephen]

We use CFLs in our cooker hood. Horrid unbranded ones that take forever to light but apart from that, vibration and heat have not been a problem.

HTH, Stephen

[Stephen]

I forgot to say, the CFLs we use are candle ones. I suppose they are long like cooker hood bulbs but I suspect they are "normal" CFL bulbs inside with just a candle shaped lens on top.

[Kostas Kavoussanakis]

I started using CFLs in the kitchen hood last week. I was truly annoyed at the cost so never really bothered, but found 2 40W equivalents (9W) at Homebase for 40p, so gave them a try. As the light was passable for the application, I then shelled out for the Megaman 9W, on account of the fact that they have no mercury. Worse light quality than the Homebase ultra-cheaps, but they will do.

I also bought a 5W B&Q candle for a hall fancy-light; SWMBO deemed the

9W too bright (and I have to say I agree).

So, for some uses, I find them to be passable, esp. at the right price. I hope LEDs come down at some point too; I have loads of dimmed GU10s and R50s.

Cheers,

Kostas